Saw the new Bond movie tonight. I’d been excited about it ever since I saw Layer Cake, which also starred Daniel Craig. I’d figured so had the Bond folks, and that was one of the big reasons he’d been chosen. He’s not necessarily a good looking guy, but he has incredible presence, and can carry an air of menace that none of the previous Bonds have had, IMO.

The movie itself (spoiler-free) was incredible. Right from the outset, you know this is a different beast than the last Bonds. This was directed by the guy who did Goldeneye, which was the last half-decent Bond film. One of the biggest problems with Bond in recent years is that he’s invincible. Regardless of what situation he’s put in, you never really felt that he was in any danger. I can only fault Pierce Brosnan and the writers for this, as the *character* just never felt authentic, and the danger never felt real.

In this, the danger is real. The level of intensity has been cranked up a notch. This Bond is *serious*, and he’s *raw*. Finally, they’ve taken him from someone who was too cool to get dirty to someone who has a job to do, knows how to do it, and isn’t going to waste any time with glib nonsense.

When it’s supposed to be funny, it’s genuinely funny. When it’s supposed to be tense, it’s genuinely tense. You never get the sense that this Bond is a comic book character, or that he’s anything other than both real, and desperate.

It’s *perfect*.

I haven’t seen all the Bond movies, but to me, this is hands-down, without a doubt the best one I’ve seen by leaps and bounds.